A rural Calmar woman hopes other pet owners never suffer the anguish she did last week when her dog perished in a snare trap.

Candi Nelson was walking on a neighbor's property between Spillville and Protivin Wednesday when her two-year-old blue Weimaraner became entangled in the snare.

"He suffocated in my arms when I was unable to loosen the trap," she said.

She blames herself for not being aware of the potential danger and that she didn't have the equipment that might have allowed her to save her beloved dog.

"I want to implore all dog owners who walk or run their dogs off-leash on public hunting ground, or out in the country, to carry a side cutter with them - a new one that is capable of cutting through high-tensile cable," she said.

Nelson said her neighbor didn't realize she and her dog might be walking there.

"He feels absolutely horrible," she said.

Nelson said she doesn't want to "bash" the person who set the trap, but rather save the lives of other pets so they don't have to go through what she did.

On Thursday, which would have been Skylar's third birthday, Nelson said she still had no feeling in one of her fingers which she used to try to free her dog from the trap's noose that had tightened around his neck. She said the trap was along a fence line and the noose got so tight it almost became embedded in her dog's skin.

She was able to get her hand under the wire, and searched for something that would have released the mechanism.

"I couldn't, no matter how hard I tried," Nelson said.

But she believes she would have been able to free Skylar with a side cutter.

"It's my fault for not getting one of those wire cutters and taking it with me. I got one today. I will never leave home without it," she said.

She said the cutters are available at lumber yards and farm supply stores.

According to Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Biologist Terry Haindfield, snare traps are used along fence lines, waterways, animal trails and culverts. They're also legal in ditches, although they can't be placed within 200 yards of a residence or a lane that serves a residence.

Snares cannot be placed in any public road right-of-way so that the snare, when fully extended, can touch any fence.

Haindfield said he recently read an article that recommended all pheasant hunters should carry a cable cutter capable of cutting through braided wire.

"Regular wire cutters aren't strong enough," he said.

"It's unfortunate people don't realize they would need them until something tragic happens," Haindfield said.

He also said cable cutters aren't effective with conibear traps, used for raccoon or beaver. They are designed to instantly kill a raccoon, but a larger dog can survive if it's released. A rope is needed to release the trap, Haindfield said.

He said it's important to inform others and to be aware of trapping seasons, to prevent similar tragedies. Trapping opened Nov. 3 and runs through Jan. 31 although beaver trapping remains open through April 15. Trapping is legal on state land.

Haindfield said trappers don't want to catch domestic animals and try various techniques to keep them out of their sets.

"It doesn't always work out that way. We have to weigh all these things out, as far as trying to reduce crop damage from beavers and raccoons and livestock depredation by coyotes while doing it as safely as possible for people with domestic pets," he said.

Haindfield explained trapping is necessary to reduce some of the populations of animals that don't have many natural predators.

He said pet owners need to be responsible. If a dog or cat strays onto private property, accidents can happen, he said.

Constant companion

Nelson said she typically transports her bike and dogs to an unimproved road near her home where she lets her dogs exercise away from traffic.

"Unfortunately, my truck wouldn't start that morning and I was short on time because I had to leave for work. That's why we were walking in the field that day rather than biking on the road. So many things just lined up wrong that day," she said.

Skylar was a rescue dog Nelson fostered, then adopted.

"He was very special to me. He was my constant companion. I couldn't go from room to room in the house without him following me," Nelson said.

"He was the playful one of my dogs. He was always getting his Frisbee or decoy duck and throwing it at me so I would play fetch with him. He looked forward every day to his walks/runs. Hopefully Skylar's death will mean some other dog, or pet, will live."

This article specifically states that Candi hopes that other pet owners never suffer the anguish she did. She also states that she doesn’t want to bash the person who set the trap. Instead her intention was to educate pet owners. I empathize with Candi and my heart breaks every time I think of this story.

However, there is no question this was a tragic accident. That’s right, an accident. The individual that set the trap had every right to do so. It was his/her land and trapping is legally allowed by the State of Iowa. If you have a problem with hunting and trapping, then you need to express your concerns with your state representative, not viciously attack the trapper who had every legal right to set that trap. Finally, for those verbally attacking this trapper “let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.”This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

While I understand the anger on the part of those who are protesting the use of snares and other traps, we can learn a lesson from Candi. We ALL need to be educated about the hazards our pets may face, and practice compassion for farmers trying to protect their livelihood and land. Candi's neighbor feels terrible about what happened, and attacking him/her only hardens everyone's hearts. What happened is tragic, and Candi doesn't want "revenge" or a lawsuit, she wants to protect other dogs while respecting the rights of others who are acting within the law. I don't think any of the people who set these traps are sadistic, or want to torutrue animals. It's easier to solve problems like these when we try to work together rather than tearing each other apart. I've been praying for Candi since the day I saw what happened on Facebook, and applaud her for her compassion to others in the face of such a tremendous loss. My heart is with all involved in this sad accident.This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

If idiots are going to use these traps--then signs should be posted by every trap! this woman should have a good law suit on her hands. any thing else that is dangerous to people or animals has a sign posted.This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

Seems like there is some element of self-blame due to a lack of not knowing about the trap's presence, yet Candi, Skylar should not have died such an agonizing and cruel death. No living, breathing, sentient creature should have to die that way. Abolish trapping! The suffering attributed to trapping live animals all in exchange for a $6.00 - $10.00 pelt? And for people and dogs like Candi & Skylar and pet owners like myself and millions of others, what is the price of our dog's suffering and ultimate death in a trap? There is no price!This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

This barbaric practice must be outlawed. Do the trappers not think the animals suffer? I hope they develop consciences and are tortured by the thought of all the animals they murdered.This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

you are way to compassionate, i for one no matter how sorry the neighbor was would have my wrath as long as i lived. trapping is pure and simple torture for any animal that get caught. watch videos of animals in traps and you'll see. we need to stop supporting the fur trade so these losers will have to get their income by doing real work/ lazy aholes.This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

My heart goes out to Candi. I lost a dog in a conibear trap a few years ago while I was walking him and my other dogs on my father in law's farm. Conibear traps are different than leg hold traps in that they are designed to kill the animal once it is caught. They are also very difficult for the average person to spring, so as I struggled to get his head out of the trap's jaws, Riley slowly died. It was a horrible way to die - and no animal should go through that. What made it all the worse (if that is possible) was that the person who set this trap did not have permission to be trapping on my families farm. There also was no ID tag on his trap, which is illegal, so we had no way to identify the person who had set the trap. After this tragedy, I talked to several different people who have had dogs or cats caught in traps of one type or another, so it is not as rare as one might think. While I'd love to see the day when trapping was banned outright, at the very least trappers should have the common courtesy to ask permission to trap on private property and in my opinion, should not be allowed on public lands where people and pets frequently walk the trails.This comment has been hidden due to low approval.

Why is it only horrible when a beloved pet is caught in a trap?? The owner and pet are not the only ones who should be protected here for God's sake........This comment has been hidden due to low approval.